Mattapoisett Town Clerk Cathy Heuberger is getting ready for the presidential election, and she’s encouraging residents to try out the new early voting option.

For two weeks prior to the election, early voting will be available at Town Hall, and it will, hopefully, save time.

Mattapoisett has only one voting precinct and consequently only one machine to tabulate ballots on election day. With almost 5,000 registered voters and a historically 85 percent turnout at presidential elections, lines are most certainly going to be long on Nov. 8.

Heuberger said the town will have three counting machines – one for early voting at Town Hall, one for Nov. 8 and a backup just in case.

“We’ve tried to do everything…to make sure things run smoothly on the day of the election,” she said.

To help with that, registered Mattapoisett voters can cast early ballots on the following dates and times: Oct. 24, 25, 27, 28, 31 and Nov. 1, 3, 4 from 8-4 p.m. and Oct. 26, Nov. 2 from 8-7 p.m. The Town Clerk will offer weekend hours on Oct. 29 from 10-2 p.m. Absentee votes and early voting by mail are also available.

“It’s just another option to make things more convenient,” Heuberger said.

All ballots, early and otherwise, will be counted on Nov. 8 and not before.

Town Clerks in the tri-town will also make a PSA on early voting that will air on ORCTV. Stay tuned.